..::Football III::..

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"It's a pity our photographer missed Oscar-Costa bust up!' - Hiddink

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink will not be taking disciplinary action against Oscar or Diego Costa and insists the duo quickly laughed off their training ground bust-up.

Reports surfaced in the British media that the pair had to be separated by shocked team-mates following an altercation in training on Thursday sparked by an overzealous tackle by Oscar.

However, the Brazil international quickly played down the incident on Twitter and Hiddink says Oscar apologised immediately.

"No [there will be not be any disciplinary action], they solved it immediately, it's perfect. Sometimes we go over the edge with good emotions and intensity, when you solve it there's no problem for me," he said ahead of Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie against Scunthorpe United.

"It is a pity that our photographer had a day off because he could have shot beautiful pictures of the bulls who were chesting a bit after a charge from behind from the smallest bull, which was Oscar, he took a charge from behind.

"It [the tackle] was overdone and when you know Oscar, he is not the biggest tackler in the team, he got Diego and then they stumbled over the ground, stood up, chested a bit but without a serious threat of punching.

"Then we came in between them, but there was no need to say anything. In the intensity of the session we had - we had an intense sharp session, close on the edge - these things happen.

"Then Oscar apologised in front of the group, I said 'take the podium'. He apologised, they looked at each other and they started laughing. Jokes were made, it's a battle that happens when you play on high intensity. It happens, it's solved."

Costa and Oscar were two players who came in for particularly heavy criticism from fans following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, but the duo have been in good form in Chelsea's four-match unbeaten run.Hiddink was keen to stress that he does not believe either player was underperforming for Mourinho, but the Dutchman feels the pair are understanding they have to give more to the team.

"They're focused on what they have to do," he added. "Players like Oscar, who are blessed by nature in their talent, they know they have to work hard too for the benefit of team so he can excel his performance."They work hard, they were just relying maybe a bit too much on the talent. They're adding more things."

 

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Guardiola to Manchester United talk does not worry Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal says he is not interested by rumours linking Pep Guardiola with the Manchester United manager's job.The Bayern Munich head coach has stated his desire to join a Premier League club once he leaves the Allianz Arena at the end of the season.

Manchester City are the current favourites to land the former Barcelona boss, but United have been credited with an interest in his signature, with Guardiola having professed a desire to take charge at Old Trafford in the past.

Van Gaal understands the appeal that England's top flight has for Guardiola, although he would not be drawn on the rumours that he will be replaced by the man he coached himself at Camp Nou.

"I have said that two years ago that it is not so strange," he said. "You have to set your goals as a manager, because managers also have ambition and Pep Guardiola has that ambition and wants to to see the culture of the Premier League, just like I did.

"I have already said that I am at the end of my career, so for me it is not so interesting. For me, what is interesting is how I take care of Manchester United and I still have one year to go after this season."United brought back Adnan Januzaj from Borussia Dortmund this week after he failed to make an impact during a loan spell at Signal Iduna Park.

Van Gaal insists he has faith in the Belgium international's abilities and has challenged him to earn a spot in the first team again once he has proven himself ready for the Under-21 side.

"I believe in Adnan. It's better he is here to show his talent," said Van Gaal."First, he has to show his fitness in the Under-21s. We have to wait and see if he can play on Monday [away to Reading]."

Van Gaal's men host Sheffield United in the FA Cup third round on Saturday - a competition they have not won since 2004 - but the Dutchman does not consider their long wait for the trophy to be an anomaly.

"I don't think this is crazy as that is football, you can win some and you can lose some," he said. "I think the FA Cup is very difficult to win and we have seen that already last year when we play against Yeovil and Cambridge United. Every match is difficult to win, no matter what level you have to compete with."

The former Netherlands boss has also dismissed suggestions that his side have adopted the more attacking approach demanded by the club's supporters, though he hopes his attackers now have more confidence.

"We are always playing attacking football, only now we have scored and that is the difference," he added, referring to the 2-1 win over Swansea City. "That shall give more confidence and we have still to see that because one swallow doesn't make a summer.

"I hope we progress because I see it in the training sessions, but you have to show it on the pitch."

 

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Guardiola to Manchester United talk does not worry Van Gaal

Manchester United Guardiola wa meh sare gatthe nathnam ayeth meh wage chance 1kak kalekata ena 1kak naha​

 

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Van Gaal not surprised by Januzaj's struggles at Borussia Dortmund

Louis van Gaal admits he is not surprised that Adnan Januzaj struggled to make an impact at Borussia Dortmund and says the Belgian will need to improve his fitness before returning to Manchester United’s first team.

The 20-year-old cut short his season-long loan at Dortmund earlier this week having made just 12 appearances in total for the German club, which included just 160 minutes in the Bundesliga.

Van Gaal had warned Januzaj that he may find life tough at Dortmund and insists the winger is better off developing at Old Trafford.

"I hope he can show his talent this year for Manchester United," said Van Gaal.

"I believe in the talent of Adnan Januzaj. I have said this previously. I also previewed that it shall be very difficult to play matches in Dortmund and, unfortunately, I was right.

“Then I think that, if he cannot play there, then he would be better training with us here to show his talent in the first team.

"He has been tested already this morning and he didn't play so much [for] 90 minutes, only in the pre-season, so he has to show his fitness in the second team.

“We have to wait to see that the papers are alright, as they are not at the moment. We have to see if he can play on Monday for the second team. He is fit to play and that is also very good, then he can show his quality.”

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Bastia: Maxwell volley helps down visitors

Paris Saint-Germain moved 22 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 as first-half goals from Thiago Motta and Maxwell secured a regulation 2-0 victory over Bastia.

The result in the first match back following the mid-season break extended the reigning champions' unbeaten league run to 29 games as they canter to a fourth successive title.

Bastia had arrived in the capital bolstered by two wins and a draw in December that had seen them clamber out of the relegation zone.

But Ghislain Printant's men are yet to win on their travels this season and rarely threatened to improve upon that record once Thiago Silva headed the home side in front after 29 minutes.

And, after Maxwell doubled PSG's lead just before the break, an eighth home league win of the season for Laurent Blanc's side was all but assured.

In a niggly and largely uninspiring opening quarter, the only two chances of note both fell the way of Bastia midfielder Seko Fofana.

The on-loan Manchester City man first dragged a low shot wastefully wide after a swift counter-attack and was then similarly off-target with a speculative right-foot strike from close to 30 yards out.

Despite having looked rather laboured in possession, however, PSG took the lead with their first effort on the Bastia goal.

Angel di Maria's corner reached Thiago Silva, who had ghosted in at the far post, and his header had already crossed the line before Thiago Motta made sure by scrambling it into the net.

Having broken the deadlock, the home side proceeded to dominate the remainder of the first half, Lucas Moura heading over before fellow Brazilian Maxwell made it 2-0 after 39 minutes.

Di Maria again claimed the assist with a delightful flighted throughball and Maxwell finished in style with a stunning angled volley.

As the second half progressed, PSG opened up the Bastia defence on an increasingly regular basis, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Serge Aurier and Lucas Moura all seeing goalbound efforts blocked.

Sebastien Squillaci did cause a rare anxious moment for the home defence when he pounced upon a fumble by goalkeeper Kevin Trapp on 70 minutes, but the danger was cleared and normal service was swiftly restored as substitute Ezequiel Lavezzi came within inches of making it 3-0 with a curling effort from just inside the box.

PSG continued to press right up to the final whistle, but were ultimately unable to add any further gloss to the scoreline.

 

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Zidane rules out January transfers at Real Madrid

New Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane says he is not planning for any transfer business during the January window.

Spain international Isco has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City, although the departure of Rafael Benitez has prompted talk that the attacking midfielder will opt to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Speculation has also mounted over the future of Gareth Bale, who has been touted for a return to the Premier League despite Zidane's assurances that he is firmly in his plans.

Madrid have also been linked with a bid for Wolfsburg defender Ricardo Rodriguez, with the Switzerland international forced to deny any approach from the club earlier this week.

But Zidane says he has no plans to allow anyone to leave this month and is not looking to bolster his squad with new additions.

"I don't want anyone to leave or to come in. I have a great squad," he said on Friday."With players like James [Rodriguez] and Isco, you have to give them affection. That's what I'm going to do, but the most important thing is the group. It's always the group that wins.

"The team is very focused, they want to do things well."We had intensity during training. The players have been great. I hope to have the same intensity for tomorrow's game."

Zidane also dismissed criticism from former France boss Raymond Domenech this week, who claimed the World Cup-winner was "not a nice guy"."He has his opinion. He knows me very well, and I know him. I'm only worried about the game with Deportivo La Coruna," Zidane said.

 

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Kane wants to stay at Tottenham - Pochettino

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says Harry Kane has no desire to leave the club.

Reports have suggested that Real Madrid, who have signed Luka Modric and Gareth Bale from Spurs in recent years, had identified Kane as a priority acquisition ahead of the summer transfer window.

Pochettino, however, insists that any potential suitor would be wasting their time with a bid.

"He is one of the best strikers in world and it would not surprise me if some big clubs were interested in him," Pochettino said of Kane, who has scored 13 goals in 26 appearances in all competitions this season.

"Harry is not for sale and the good thing is that he wants to stay with us.

"Sometimes a coach can say that a player is not for sale but if a player wants to leave, sometimes he leaves. But Tottenham don't want to sell - Harry wants to stay with us.

"He is in very good condition, he is fresh mentally and physically and we are happy with the way he is now."

Pochettino has also given his backing to Pep Guardiola's intended move to the Premier League this year.

The Bayern Munich boss has confirmed he will leave the Bundesliga champions when his contract expires in June and would like to take charge of a top-flight club in England.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world and Guardiola is one of the best managers in the world," Pochettino added.

"In the last few years, he has won a lot of titles with Barcelona and Bayern. It's exciting if in the end he comes to the Premier League."

 

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Guardiola and Bayern stars to miss Ballon d'Or awards

Coach of the Year nominee Pep Guardiola and his Bayern Munich side will not be attending Monday's prestigious Ballon d'Or awards ceremony as they are away on a mid-season training break.

Guardiola, who steered Bayern to the Bundesliga title last season, is on a shortlist of three alongside Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli and favourite for the award Luis Enrique, who won a Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble with Barcelona in 2014-15.

However, Bayern are not due to return to Munich from a training camp in Qatar until Tuesday, meaning Guardiola and his squad are unable to attend in Zurich.
Bayern legend Paul Breitner, now a club ambassador, will attend on the club's behalf.

A Fifa statement read: "It is of course a pity that the Coach of the Year nominee Pep Guardiola and the other FC Bayern Munich nominees for the Fifa/FIFPro World XI will not be able to attend this year's Fifa Ballon d'Or in Zurich in person.
"But as the world governing body of football, Fifa understands that for sporting reasons, the club's winter break training camp must take priority."

 

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Wenger insists Arsenal will take FA Cup seriously

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal will take the FA Cup seriously as he aims to win the competition for a third year in a row.

The Emirates Stadium side kick off their FA Cup campaign at home to Sunderland on Saturday and Wenger has made it clear they will do everything within their power to go as far as possible.

"Of course there is extra pressure because we won the competition last season," he said at a news conference.

"Being the holders, we want to stay in the competition and do it again if possible.
"I don’t see why the FA Cup should be ostracised because of the Premier League. "We want to go for the competition and go for it 100 per cent."

Arsenal recorded a 3-1 win over Sunderland in the Premier League earlier this season but Wenger expects a tricky encounter at the weekend.

"We have learned Sunderland are very dangerous on the counter-attack. It was a very hard-fought win against them [last time]," he added. "I do not expect any weaknesses from Sam Allardyce. His team will be focused no matter what.

"Managers do not play weaker teams in the cup because everyone has 25 players of Premier League quality."

 

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Exeter City 2-2 Liverpool: Klopp’s men face Anfield replay after FA Cup scare

Jurgen Klopp's injury-ravaged Liverpool fought back twice to salvage a 2-2 draw and earn a replay against League Two side Exeter City in the third round of the FA Cup on Friday.

Having seen Dejan Lovren, Philippe Coutinho, Kolo Toure and Jordon Ibe join a lengthy casualty list following the midweek League Cup win over Stoke City, Klopp made 11 changes and named three debutants for the trip to Devon.

And the Liverpool boss in his first game in the competition saw his side briefly fall behind at St James' Park when Tom Nichols' ninth-minute opener was cancelled out by Jerome Sinclair's first goal for the visitors three minutes later.

Klopp's young side acquitted themselves well after levelling, but trailed 2-1 when second-choice goalkeeper Adam Bogdan made a mess of Lee Holmes' corner - the winger's delivery sailing directly into the far corner.

Experienced midfielders Adam Lallana and Lucas Leiva remained on the bench and Klopp's faith in his inexperienced line-up paid off when substitute Sheyi Ojo helped set up Brad Smith's equaliser 17 minutes from time.

Having twice let their Premier League opponents off the hook, Exeter will get another chance to spring a shock at Anfield, when Klopp will hope Liverpool's injury crisis eases in time for the replay.

Exeter were the victims of a giantkilling last season as they were dumped out by non-League Warrington Town, but Nichols had the home crowd on their feet when he opened the scoring with the first attempt of the game following strong work down the right from Jamie Reid.

The winger exploited space behind Jose Enrique and crossed for Nichols, who prodded the ball past Bogdan, although the visitors responded impressively.

Exeter failed to clear following Ryan Kent's deflected shot and stand-in skipper Christian Benteke's miscontrolled touch, allowing Sinclair to calmly sidefoot the ball home.

Liverpool edged the remainder of the opening half hour, but struggled to create further chances with David Noble almost restoring Exeter's lead when he shot over the crossbar from inside the area.

And after Christian Ribeiro evaded his marker only to head wide of Bogdan's right-hand post, Liverpool fell behind again as the goalkeeper's weaknesses at set-pieces were exposed on the stroke of half-time.

Holmes whipped a corner in from the left and, under pressure on the line from Nichols, Bogdan flapped at the delivery - reminiscent of his error that led to Watford's opener in his side's defeat at Vicarage Road last month.

The hosts began the second half brightly and saw penalty appeals turned down when Ribeiro went down under the challenge of Kevin Stewart before Bobby Olejnik denied Benteke a headed equaliser from inside the six-yard box.

Ribeiro glanced another header wide as the game opened up prior to the hour, but another sloppy piece of defending allowed Liverpool to level once more as Jordan Moore-Taylor cleared Ojo's cross directly to Smith, who reacted quickly to divert the ball back into the net.

Both sides survived scares late on and will be separated in a replay on Merseyside following a result that largely suits both parties - given Liverpool's injury woes and Exeter's lowly position in the Football League pyramid.

 

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Van Gaal gets ANOTHER Manchester United player’s name wrong

This is getting silly now, Louis.

The Manchester United boss has a track record for getting his names mixed up after he christened Chris Smalling “Mike” during the club’s pre-season tour last July, before doing the same thing again in November.

This time we may have to give the benefit of the doubt to the Dutchman, as he confused Will Keane, United’s 22-year-old forward, with his twin brother Michael, a defender who was sold to Burnley last January.

Will Keane has trained with United all week after cutting short his loan spell with Preston but that didn’t stop Van Gaal from getting mixed up.

When asked why Adnan Januzaj had been recalled from his loan at Borussia Dortmund, Van Gaal replied: ”It is more or less the same as we have done with Michael Keane, for example, they are coming to us to ask for a second chance and Manchester United is a club who takes care of all their players and I think it's a very good habit to do that."

Or it could be that Van Gaal just likes the name Mike...

 

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Van Gaal: Manchester United players too soft

Louis van Gaal has challenged his Manchester United players to show more aggression and take greater responsibility after accusing his squad of being too friendly with each other.

Van Gaal and United have endured a turbulent season, having exited the Champions League last month in the midst of an eight-game winless streak, which finally came to an end against Swansea City in the Premier League last week.

The 2-1 win at Old Trafford eased the pressure on Van Gaal following an improved display in their goalless draw with embattled champions Chelsea last month.

And as United prepare for Saturday's FA Cup third-round visit of Sheffield United, Van Gaal was asked if the mood within the dressing room had improved since the points were shared at home to Chelsea.

"I think the atmosphere in our dressing room is very good, maybe too good because they are always protecting the dressing room, their colleagues. That is very good until a certain height," the Dutchman told reporters.

"We have also changed our approach to the players to make it more easy to take responsibility. I have stimulated them to think about football.

"The game is a brain sport and now you can let them think with you and therefore you can change your approach."The players take the commitment, for example, for the game plan and other kinds of decisions and then the commitment is higher and bigger I think.

"But we have to see how it shall work. We are trying everything to come to a solution but at the end it always comes down to [whether] we are better than the opponents. But we have to score goals."

 

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Hiddink: Oscar-Costa clash shows fight and emotion

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink encouraged players to show fight and emotion, claiming it raises their level of playing, following a clash between Oscar and Diego Costa.

The two Blues stars were involved in a training ground bust-up on Thursday, with Hiddink confirming they buried the hatchet soon afterwards.

Midfielder Oscar started the row with a strong challenge on Costa before the Spain international gave it back as good as he got, something that Hiddink likes to see in his players.

"When this guy puts the emotion in, then automatically his level of plays rises, and that is encouraging," he said.

"It was the two bulls - I don't like when they hit, but with the intensity of the training session — we had a very sharp training session and it was on the edge.

"When you have to push people, then the motivation is too low. So I like it more when I have to be alert to what happens. Then, [I say] 'Come on, guys. Please. This is not done at a big club — or any club.'"

Hiddink recalled previous incidents in his managerial career, but said it is all part of the job to react and solve those situations.

He said: "If you go through your own career, you can have four, five, six times when you could have incidents which the manager has to manage, to solve.

"In my first spell at PSV Eindhoven, where we had a very strong team - we went all the way through the European Cup at the time - I had very strong characters, like Eric Gerets, like Soren Lerby, like Ronald Koeman, who were very eager to win and they liked to go on the edge.

"As a manager, you have to react rather well."

 

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FA Cup Fixtures 2016.01.09

FA Cup Fixtures 2016.01.09​

Wycombe Vs Aston Villa​

Arsenal Vs Sunderland​

Birmingham City Vs Bournemouth​

Brentford Vs Wasall​

Bury Vs Brandford​

Colochester Vs Charlton Athletic​

Doncaster Rovers Vs Stoke City​

Eastleigh Vs Bolton​

Everton Vs Dagenham​

Hartlepool Vs Derby Country​

Huddersfield Vs Reading​

Hull Vs Brighton ​

Ipswich Town vs Portsmouth​

Leeds United Vs Rotherham​

Middlebrough Vs Burnley​

Newport Vs Blackburn​

Northampton Vs Milton Keynes​

Norwich City Vs Manchester City​

Nottinham Forest Vs QPR​

Peterborogh Vs Preston​

Shieffield Vs Fulham​

Southampton Vs Crystal Palace​

Watford Vs Newcastle​

WBA Vs Bristol City​

West Ham Vs Wolves​

Manchester United Vs Sheffield United​

 

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FA Cup Fixtures 2016.01.09

LA Liga Fixtures 2016.01.09

Barcelona Vs Granada

Getafe Vs Real Betis

Sevilla Vs Athletic Bilbao

Real Madrid Vs Deportivo

Levante Vs Rayo Vallecano​

 

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Serie A Fixtures 2016.01.09

Serie A Fixtures 2016.01.09

Carpi Vs Udinese

Fiorentina Vs Lazio

Roma Vs AC Milan​

 

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Ranieri: Vardy won't be rushed back to fitness

Jamie Vardy will not play against Tottenham in the FA Cup, and Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri is cautious about rushing him back for their Premier League clash with the same opponent three days later.

The Leicester forward underwent minor groin surgery this week for a longstanding problem.

Vardy has been in tremendous form for Leicester this season - scoring 15 goals in the league alone - but has failed to find the net in his past four appearances.

Ranieri said Vardy is back in training but still needs sufficient time to recover, and will not risk the 28-year-old against Tottenham."He’s OK. He trained today and he’s working with the physio. I think he should be ready for the league match [against Spurs]," he said.

"I said to my physio I don’t want to lose him for a long time. If he’s ready for the second match against Tottenham, OK. If not, Aston Villa."

 

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Tuchel slams Januzaj's attitude and desire

Borrusia Dortmund head coach Thomas Tuchel has criticised Adnan Januzaj, saying the Manchester United player did not display the correct attitude during his loan spell in the Bundesliga.The 20-year-old, who joined BVB in August, had his season-long loan cut short by mutual agreement this month after he failed to start a single league match.

United manager Louis van Gaal had warned Januzaj that a move to Dortmund might not be a wise move if he wanted first-team football, but will now give him a second chance at Old Trafford.

Tuchel was not impressed with the Belgium international's brief spell in Germany, highlighting the young forward's mental approach as a reason for his failure.

"It is a pity he did not show the desire and attitude you need to progress at his age," the BVB boss said to Sportbild.

"My feeling was that he never was completely with us, that a part of him always stayed in Manchester and he compared everything here with United. "We were not able to help him to shake that off."

Van Gaal has told Januazaj that he must prove his fitness with United's Under-21 side before earning a first-team recall.

 

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Verratti: I tried to pull his shorts down!

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti joked he was trying to pull Axel Ngando's shorts down with his cynical foul in his side's win over Bastia.

Verratti, 23, tugged at Ngando's shirt and picked up a yellow card in PSG's 2-0 victory at Parc des Princes on Friday.The Italy international's booking was just his second of the Ligue 1 season and he said Ngando's shorts were his target.

"I will not make a mistake with the feet because it is dangerous to the opponent," Verratti said after the win.

"I tried to take the shorts. It was not a good choice."I had lost the ball and we were outnumbered. I didn't want to be at fault for a goal."PSG coach Laurent Blanc had suggested Verratti could be sent off with a similar foul in the Champions League.

But Verratti laughed that off, saying: "I don't think so. It isn't dangerous to the opponent. It is never red."

 

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Gotze rules out January move to Liverpool

Mario Gotze has dismissed speculation that he is set to leave Bayern Munich for a reunion with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

The Germany international starred under Klopp at Borussia Dortmund before joining Bayern in 2013.

Gotze is stepping up his rehabilitation from a groin injury that has sidelined him since October and, despite Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer this week dismissing any potential move to the Premier League club as "nonsense", the player himself told Sport Bild that "everything is open".

But in quotes given to TZ, the 23-year-old ruled out joining Liverpool in the immediate future despite a frustrating period in Bavaria.

"I can rule out a move to Liverpool this winter," Gotze said. "I don't know where the rumours about Klopp and me are coming from."I have not heard anything. You should ask Klopp if he wants me at Liverpool. If he wants me, he should approach me.

"I have six nice months ahead of me. It is always annoying when you cannot play and cannot help the team."It is only normal that you think about things like that. But you have to look at the positives and build on those."

Gotze's contract at Bayern runs until June 2017 and he is keen to experience life under Carlo Ancelotti when the Italian replaces outgoing coach Pep Guardiola at the end of this season.

The man who netted the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final is keen to re-establish himself at Bayern and is buoyed by a glowing reference on Ancelotti given by Toni Kroos – his international team-mate who played under the former AC Milan boss at Real Madrid last season.

"I have spoken about Ancelotti with Kroos and he only had good things to say. I have had Klopp, [Joachim] Low and Guardiola as my coaches before. There could be worse coaches than those four."I want to become the face of Bayern and take my responsibility here."